Wrath

By S. Peters Davis

Kendra Sparks’ vacation gets cut short when Sassy Blaze, the captured voodoo priestess of the dark arts, hangs herself in prison, and a string of curious deaths follows.

Attempting to stop Sassy costs lives, relationships, and creates unexpected complications, especially for Derek and Kendra.

Who will defeat the voodoo, dark witch when she can possess whoever she wants?

The FBI-VCU-SI team must deal with the ultimate test of good vs. evil and sacrifices might be the only way. It’s not looking promising...

• Language: English
• Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
• Release date: Apr 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9780228621263

Book preview

Wrath

A Kendra Spark Novel, Book 5

S. Peters-Davis

Digital ISBNs

EPUB 9780228621263

Kindle 9780228621270

Web 9780228621287

Print ISBNs

LSI/Ingram Print 9780228621294

B&N Print 9780228621300

Amazon Print 9780228621317

Copyright 2022 by Susan Davis

Cover art by Michell Lee

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book

Wrath is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, locations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.

Dedication

To my family and friends, who understand when my brain/focus is set in story-mode, and I’m lost to everything else.

To my readers, hope you enjoyed my characters and their story – Bless you for reading this series. Heart Hugs.

Acknowledgments

Sharon, my first reader, chapter-by-chapter, she sticks with me like a heartbeat. I’m ever so grateful for your

eagle-eye, and for your deep friendship and giving soul. I adore your dedication to see me through it.

Giant Heart Hugs.

Nancy Bell, my editor and kindred-spirit friend, polishes my words until they sparkle. You’re amazing!

Jude Pittman, my publisher, thank you for your time, support, and great wisdom. You are greatly appreciated.

Chapter One

Kendra

Sparky, Jenna hollered. The upper half of her body whipped outside the window as she waved — a move only my ghost best friend could accomplish.

I stepped over and saw Derek jogging up the classy porch stairway of the beautiful home my sister and I had rented for a three-week vacation in Branson, Missouri, with our mother.

Derek waved back at Jenna. NaNa Rosa, our voodoo priestess, had opened his all-seeing ability, making it possible for him to see spirits, good or bad.

Jenna slipped the rest of her body through the wall to meet him.

Mom, be right back. Derek’s outside. I headed toward the door, my whole insides exploding with flutters. He’d called or sent me texts almost every night we’d been apart.

Vacation isn’t over, Rachel snapped right before I closed the door.

Derek’s brilliant smile spread wider when I stepped outside, deepening the heated waves that spread through me. I closed the distance between us and threw myself into his open arms — a mind-blowing kiss on my current schedule. Thank goodness he caught me. When I came up for air, he whispered against my lips, I’ve missed you, Sweeting.

I’ve had a memorable time with Mom and Rachel, but I’ve really missed you. In celebration, I had stretched Mom’s vacation into three weeks instead of one. She’d beaten the big ‘C,’ which seemed a pretty good reason for the extension.

Derek’s face hovered so closely that I smothered him with another kiss. His arms wrapped around me tighter, molding my body to his.

Geeze! Get a room all ready! Jenna’s body rose from behind Derek, and she gave me her famous stink-eye. Or perhaps we should find out why Derek is here.

Derek turned toward her and then laughed. Leave it to Jenna. Sometimes I liked it better when I didn’t see or hear you.

Why are you here? Jenna stared at him, wide-eyed.

I broke out of Derek’s embrace and stepped back to gain a little distance, finding it hard to avoid what the heart wanted.

Derek shot Jenna a stink-eye in response, then said, I noticed a park on the way here. Let’s walk up the street and talk. His brows drew inward. What I have to say is confidential.

Okay, sure. I ran back and opened the door to stick my head inside. Hey, Derek has some work stuff to tell me, so we’re headed to the park. Shouldn’t be long.

Rachel huffed. He does realize you’re still on vacation, right?

Oh, Rachel, give your sister a break, for God’s sake. Mom had turned into a sweetheart on this vacation. I figured all the country music stars she’d met brightened her mood.

I nodded and closed the door, knowing my sister would throttle me if I left before our check-out date.

Derek grabbed my hand, and I followed his fast pace along the tree-lined sidewalk. The colors of the leaves were beginning to turn with the cool October mornings. We entered the park and moved to a secluded picnic table. Jenna had disappeared but came into view with a whiff of vanilla as we sat down.

The ominous silence from Derek crept inside me like a cemetery vault door creaking closed and creating a sound of finality.

First off, I’m sorry for breaking in on your special time with your family. Derek’s warm fingers squeezed mine. His electric blue eyes softened as he looked at me.

It’s okay, Derek. Just spit it out. What’s happened? Even though no one could hear it, Jenna tapped her foot on the concrete pad stabilizing the picnic table. She folded her arms around her waist as her lips pinched together.

The thing is, we need you back, both of you. Sassy Blaze hung herself in the prison cell last night. Derek’s deep man-breath ruffled through my hair. The power went out in her hall, and the surveillance monitor went fuzzy for several minutes. When it popped back on, Sassy’s dead body hung by roped sheets from a vent in the wall, and the guard for that hallway went missing. Our team figured someone paid him to kill Sassy Blaze, or another worst-case scenario, a spirit might have possessed the guard. According to the guard’s file, he was top-rated with honors and supervised the training of newly recruited prison guards.

Holy smokes. Nothing about that makes any sense. I glanced at Jenna. NaNa Rosa performed a ritual to bind Sassy’s powers, and she couldn’t have broken that.

I agree on the impossibility of possession since NaNa Rosa did bind Sassy’s powers. Her body went missing before any guards got to her cell, which was locked. Derek let go of my hand and turned toward Jenna. What are your thoughts?

Between the FBI and the SWAT team rounding up cartel members and everyone else that was part of the human trafficking, who’s left? Unless maybe Vinny, Tony, and Angela aren’t as clean as everyone believes, Jenna stated, a thoughtful expression coating her face.

Speaking of the Merrettis, there’s more. Derek glanced back at me, shaking his head. This morning, something else happened at the Federal Penitentiary in Pennsylvania. There were claims that a body got wheeled out for the FBI coroners to investigate in D.C. So far, nobody can track who notified the prison, the identification of the dead body, or who gave permission for the transfer. Nobody knows where the coroner’s vehicle went. All the monitors blinked out for several minutes, but everything went into automatic lockdown mode. Derek grabbed my hand again. Vince Merretti is also missing, plus the missing guard from Sassy’s prison cell block was discovered outside the fence this morning, dead. So far, there’s nothing to show how he died.

And why do you need us now? Jenna moved into the center of the picnic table, only the top half of her visible.

There’s a chance that the guard’s soul is still with the body. Derek tilted his head to look at Jenna.

You can handle that part of it now, Jenna scoffed.

I flew straight there from D.C. and visited the morgue. There’s a film encasing his body, and of course, it’s invisible to the coroners, but it might be holding his soul captive. Derek took another man-breath and squeezed my hand. My insides heated as his startling blues scanned my face. NaNa Rosa told me to take you and Jenna there. With your grandmother’s wisdom inside you now, you should be able to break whatever imprisoned his soul. NaNa Rosa thought you might get some information from him about Sassy and Vince Merretti but also wanted you to know that it could be a trap. She’s in the middle of another emergency with your grandmother, and neither can help out on this one.

A trap? Jenna’s forefinger tapped her chin as her focus went skyward.

I closed my eyes, allowing my mind to shuffle through the files of white witch wisdom Grandma Ellie had downloaded into my brain. I gasped and opened my eyes. I know what to do…I think, but I’ll need to pick up some supplies. Most herbal stores carry what’s required.

The plane is waiting at the Branson airport for my return. You both know the need to hurry. Derek slid off the picnic table and pulled me along with him. I’m sorry to ask this of you, Sweeting, but if Sassy’s spirit is behind all of this, we need to stop her before she gets started.

I agree, Jenna said. Let’s go face Rachel, Sparky. Your mom will understand, but your sister…yikes.

* * *

Derek stood near the door talking to Mom while Rachel pulled me into a bedroom. Jenna floated beside me.

You can’t leave. If you leave, I’m leaving, Rachel snarled. Three weeks is too long for me to be away from my business. I told you that.

Tell her to leave, you know she wants to, and who’s gonna care when the tension around here leaves with her. Jenna expelled a she-breath, even though she didn’t actually breathe, and it didn’t sound quite as big as Derek’s big breaths of frustration.

Rachel, just go already. I had a deep desire to slap my sister because she spoke loud enough for Mom to hear.

Who’s going to take Mom home? She glared at me.

Oh, my gods, how selfish can your sister get? Jenna glared at Rachel, which would have stunned Rachel if she could see Jenna.

I’ll talk to Mom and Derek, and we’ll figure something out to get Mom home, I said. Being around Rachel’s anxiety this past week set me in a frustrated mood, and sometimes, Mom’s shifted a little too. I turned and walked back to the living room, noticing Derek had remained by the door. Mom, I need to leave with Derek.

He’s already apologized and explained you are key to this investigation, and he needs to take you for an urgent case. She stood and stepped over to Derek and shook his hand. So nice to finally meet you, Derek. Mom turned to Rachel, who had followed me out of the bedroom. I know you’ve wanted to leave for the past week and probably longer. So, go. I’ll hang out here until my flight back to Michigan. Derek has a woman named Tressa arranging everything for me, even an Uber service to drive me to the airport and another to drive me home when I fly into Kalamazoo.

Way to go, Derek and Tressa. Jenna bowed toward Derek.

I stepped over to Mom and gave her a huge hug. I can’t tell you enough how much I’ve enjoyed this time with you, Mom. I’m happy your health is back to normal and that you’ve gotten to spend time in a place you’ve always wanted to visit. I hugged her again. Thank you for understanding about my leaving. I broke away and turned toward my sister. And you, well, you need more vacation time — somewhere that’ll allow you to chill out. I shook my head.

Mom added, You’re like a soda bottle all jiggled up, waiting for someone to pop the cap.

Well, before I explode, I’m out of here. Rachel turned and headed back to the bedroom. I assumed to pack.

Good riddance. Jenna blew a kiss at Rachel’s backside.

Kendra, will it take you long to pack your things? We should get going. Derek spread a tight smile.

Come on, dear, I can help you pack. It will take us fifteen minutes tops, Derek. Mom grabbed my elbow and led me toward my bedroom. I’ll get started emptying the dresser.

Again, Jenna stayed next to me. Let’s grab your diddy bag and the stuff from the bathroom.

I’ll head to the bathroom to gather my stuff, I said to Mom as I walked into the bathroom.

It did take only fifteen minutes for us to get on the road. I found directions to an herbal store on my phone that we would pass on the way to the airport. The shop had all the supplies I needed so everything would be ready for the morgue before we arrived.

* * *

The flight to Williamsport Regional Airport, PA, and the drive to the Lewisburg Penitentiary took a little over two and a half hours. I recalled going through the prison and interviewing Vince Merretti well over four months ago. This time, after signing in for entry, Derek and I headed straight to the morgue. Once there, it took several minutes for someone to take us to the body of Prison Guard Delmont Mead.

Thank you for your assistance, Derek acknowledged the man who guided us to the morgue. Now, I’d like this entire room cleared for at least an hour. Your morgue director can verify that order. Derek nodded, and as he turned toward me, our guide moved away to the two working coroners, escorting them out of the room.

Dang, this place reminds me of places in the dark plane. Jenna stood in the center of the room and spun a slow circle. It’s almost like I can feel Bertellia’s presence, even though I know that woman is gone forever.

Once everyone cleared the room, I went to work crushing and mixing up the concoction of herbs in a small burning pot. I can see the film that cocoons the body you mentioned. I lit the herbs, allowing a quick flame. Then I blew out the little fire and left the blended ingredients smoldering. As I waved the pot over the body, I said the ritual words. Jenna and Derek joined in the mantra, repeating it with me two more times to break the bond holding Mr. Mead’s soul.

Chapter Two

Kendra

A massive pop, deep enough to shake the floor, startled me. Jenna screamed. Derek jumped in front of me, pushing my body back. Grab your blades. Mine’s vibrating as if it wants to act on its own. He grabbed his dagger (the one that NaNa Rosa had given to everyone on our team for protection and guidance against evil spirits from the dark plane) out of the sheath tucked into the back of his pants.

Jenna slipped hers from the sheath strapped to her thigh.

The film surrounding Mr. Mead had disappeared, and the oozing, dark entity that rose out of him charged the air with a distinct acrid odor that immediately gagged me.

I grabbed a wastebasket and threw up.

Wow, you actually tossed your cookies, Sparky. Jenna stared at me. Are you sick? She stood next to me, dagger in her hand. Come on, woman, we need you now.

Rotten eggs, Kendra. Do you have your dagger in your hand? Derek’s full attention remained on the grizzly form of leaking pustule bumps and dripping saliva.

I puked again, and my stomach continued to buck and roll. My protection sigil burned, telling me this guy came from the dark plane and would love to feed off our energy. I had tucked the blade in my bag with the herbs. Right now, that satchel lay on the floor about three feet to my right. Gagging and swallowing, I inched toward the bag to hold off the inevitable next wave of nausea.

The entity pulled itself entirely out of Mead’s body, red eyes gawking at us. It caught my movement, and a wretched toothy smile spread across its disgusting thick, slimy lips. The horrendous monster stood on the opposite side of Mead and stepped toward me through the gurney and Mead’s body as if wading through water.

Sparky, get your dagger! Jenna readied to throw.

You look tasty, you’re first, it rasped and stretched a claw at me, snapping its sharp nails.

Derek and Jenna threw their blades, hitting the evil creeper in the heart and slowing its progress toward